Shoe rack



SHOE RACK Application April 19, 1955, Serial N0. 502,493

4 Claims. (C1. 211-37) This invention relates to improvements in rack constructions.

While the present invention has been primarily developed and employed in connection with a rack for supporting shoes in convenient osition, and will be described hereinafter with particular reference thereto, it is appreciated that the instant rack construction is capable of wide application, and all such uses are intended to be comprehended herein. The particular embodiment of the present invention, which is illustrated in the drawings and which will be described hereinafter in greater detail, comprises generally a pair of laterally spaced side members having their lower ends adapted for engagernent With a supporting surface, and at least two laterally extending elements connected between the side members to define therewith a frame structure. The laterally extending elements may be provided with suitable means for supporting shoes, or the like, as desired.

As is well known to those versed in the art, racks of the type described, say fo1 supporting shoes, o1 the like, have heretofore been fabricated of relatively expensive, seamless tubing, and fixedly secured together in their erected or assembled condition. That is, the side members were necessarily bent of tube Stock, and the lateral elements either welded, swaged or bolted to the side mernbers. This, of course, involved time-consuming and laborious assembly operations; and, the finished articles required considerable space in shipment and storage, all adding to the ultimate sale price.

Aceordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to provide a rack construction of the type described, which overcomes the above-rnentioned difiiculties, which is adapted for quick and easy assembly and disassembly by persons of only ordinary skill and Without the use of any tools. Further, the instant invention provides a rack construction which in its disassembled 01' knocked down condition occupies a minirnum of space for economy and convenience in transit and storage.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a rack construction having the advantageous characteristics mentioned in the foregoing aragraph, wherein the use of relatively expensive seamless tubing may be completely eliminated, and the side members may be fabrieated of relatively inexpensive sheet material, to eflect considerable savings in costs without sacrificing strength, appearance or ease of manufacture.

lt is still another object of the present invention to provide a rack construetion of the type described, wherein the laterally extending members are readily attachable to and detachable from the side members, and are maintained under stress when assembled With the side members so as to insure firm connection therebetween. That is, the stressed condition of the laterally extending elements prevents any looseness at their connections with the side members.

It is a further object of the present inventio n to provide an improved rack structure of the t ype described, which 1's simple in construction, requirifig a minimum of States ?ate'nt parts, staunch and sturdy in its assembled 01' erected condition, durable in use, and which can be manufactured and Sold at a reasonable cost.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following speeification and restructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view showing the rack of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view, somewhat enlarged and taken substantially along the line 3--3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view, somewhat enlarged and tal;en substantially along the line 44 of Fig. 2, with an interediat'e stage of assembly 01 erection sing illustrated in dot-and-dash outline. 1

Fig. 5 is a partial, perspective view illustiating a tie mernber of the rack construction, removed therefrom.

Fig. 6 is a partial, front view of the tie member of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a top view showing the tie member of Figs. 5 and 6.

Referring now more particular ly to the drawings, and specifically to Fig. 1 thereof, the embodiment of the invention illustrated therein comprises a pair of upstanding side rnembers, each generally designated 10, and disposed in laterally spaced, facing relation, having their lower ends adapted for engagement with a suitable supporting surface (not shown). One er more elongate tie members 11 extends laterally between the side members 10 having its opposite end portions secured to the respective side members; and, one o1 more stay members 12 extends laterally between the side mernbers, spaced frorn the tie members and also having its end portions secured to respective side members.

The side members 10 are preferably identical in construction, one being shown in detail in Figs. 2-4 as of an inverted, generally U-shaped configuration. Further, eachof the side members is of tubular construction, being bent of an elongate tube into its U-shaped configuration, and including an intermediate, generally horizontally disposed bight portion 14 and a pair of parallel spaced, generally vertically depending legs 15, 15. In the assembled condition of Figs. 1 and 2, the free ends of the legs 15 are engageable with an appropriate floor or ground surface for supporting the rack in spaced relation above the latter surface, as will appear in greater detail hereinafter.

In particular, see Figs. 3 and 4, it will be noted th at the side member 10 is formed cf sheet stock androlled or otherwise bent into tubular forrn. That is, a flat sheet of metal may be rolled so that its opposite side edges are bent into abutting or proximate relation to define a juncture er seam 17 extending longitudinally along and disposed interiorly of the tubular, U-shaped side member. In order to maintain the edges of the seam er joint 17 in proximate or meeting relation,a pair of spaced straps 18, 18 are secured across the joint on the underside of the side rnember bight' portion 14, and an additional pair of straps 19, 19 are secured across the joint on the inner sides of the legs 15, 15. lt will be noted that the straps 18, see Fig.. 4, are each formed with an intermediate downwardly bowed pcrtion 20 delfining an open-ended sleeve extending longiti1 dinallj 0f the side member bight portib'n, and e11d Portibrls' '01" ra1 tain said side members in said abutting engagement, whereby said tie rod and stay member combine with said side members to define a relatively rigid structure.

2. A rack construction according to claim 1, wherein said tie rod is resilient, said stay member being of sufficient length to maintain said side members in said abutting engagement and slightly deflect said tie rod, said tie rod and stay member thus being held in stressed condition for firm connection to said side members.

3. A rack construction according to claim 1, in combination with a pair of additional sleeves extending longitudinally along and fixedly secured to the legs cf respective side members, and transverse extensions 011 opposite ends cf said stay member insertable into and with drawable from said additional sleeves.

4. A rack construction according to claim 3, wherein each of said U-shaped side members is fabricated of a rolled tube having proximate edges extending longitudinally of said tube, said sleeves being secured across the proximate edges to hold the latter together.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 454328 Buchholz Inne 16, 1891 840,719 Soda Jan. 8, 1907 1995383 Fischer Max. 26, 1935 2695106 Cohen Nov. 23, 1954 

